Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to the technical field of fastening means, and more particularly to means for fastening panels, for example solar panels, to a support rail.

In particular, the invention relates to a fastening clip for securing panels to rails. In particular, the fastening clip according to present invention is a monobloc piece which is configured to hold the panel clamped against the rail.

Technical background

It is known in the prior art that fastening kits are used to hold a panel. US9160273 discloses a fastening kit for fastening a panel, and in particular a solar panel, to a rail. In this regard, the fastening kit comprises a holding member, a bolt and a slide member. However, this fixing kit using a bolt or a screw is not satisfactory.

This is because the bolt can loosen over time, for example due to temperature changes. This loosening has the effect of reducing the holding force exerted by the holding member on the panel, and can ultimately lead to disassociation of the panel from the rail. Consequently, the adjacent panels can also have their grip on the rail reduced and in turn become detached from the rail. Moreover, the sliding member, which is not easily accessible, can hardly be replaced in case of necessity.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastening clip, for holding a panel clamped by one of its faces, named a contact face, against a structure comprising a single rail.

The fastening clip comprises:

- two opposite walls, which extend along an axis AA';

- two lateral wings, which laterally extend the two walls from their upper ends in two opposite directions and away from each other, the lateral wings being intended to rest against a face of the panel opposite the contact face;

- the two opposite walls are spilt into two feet, between which it is suitable to receive the single rail;

- a plate, which connects directly the two walls by their lower ends;

The fastening clip is a one-piece construction or a monobloc piece.

Advantageously, the fastening clip is a monobloc piece which is more solid compared. It is easy to replace such a fastening clip in case of necessity.

As a one-piece construction, the assembly process is advantageously simplified compared with fastening kits which require more assembly work.

The fastening clip presents elastic performances and can absorb vibration for example caused by severe weather conditions.

In some embodiments, the two feet are of different length and form an L shaped slot, wherein the short foot comprises a gap forming the horizontal part of the L shaped slot.

In some embodiments, the two feet form a slot, the fastening clip further comprises two attachment branches extending towards bottom of the slot, such that a T shaped single be retained in the slot by the two attachment branches projecting toward bottom of the slot.

In some embodiments, the two feet are essentially of equal length.

In some embodiments, each of lateral wings comprises at least one tab with tip projecting toward the plate.

Advantageously, this can enhance the clamp of the panel frame and assure the grounding function.

In some embodiments, each of lateral wings comprises means for elevating the lateral wing, such as least one hook.

Advantageously, this allows an easy disassembly.

In some embodiments, the fastening clip comprises at least one holding means for connecting directly the opposite walls.

Advantageously, this can prevent the two opposite walls from toppling in the middle.

In some embodiments, at least one holding means consists of two arms.

In some embodiments, the arms are attached by means of hooks.

In some embodiments, the arms contact each other.

In some embodiments, two opposite walls comprise at least one stiffener.

Advantageously, the opposite walls are strengthened.

More generally, the fastening clip of the present invention is made of metal material.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a kit of parts for clamping at least an elongated panel.

The kit comprises:

- at least one fastening clip according to present invention; and

- at least one structure with a single rail.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide an assembly comprising

- at least one kit according to present invention; and

- at least an elongated panel.

In some embodiments, the elongated panel is a solar panel, and the assembly comprises further at least one frame suitable to receive the elongated panel and to be clamped by the fastening clip.

Further advantages will be apparent from the following description of the present disclosure. Brief description of the drawings

The invention may be better understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the invention. Among the drawings:

Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view showing a fastening kit installed on a support rail;

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fastening clip according to one embodiment of present invention, which is installed on a support rail;

Figure 2 illustrates a side view showing a fastening clip according to one embodiment of present invention, which is installed on a support rail;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a fastening clip according to a first embodiment of present invention, with panels being held on a support rail; Figures 4-5 illustrate consecutive steps of how to fasten panels on a support rail with a fastening clip according to the first embodiment of present invention; Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view showing a fastening clip installed on a support rail according to a second embodiment of present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view showing a fastening clip according to a second embodiment, with panels being held on a support rail;

Figure 8 illustrates another sectional view showing a fastening clip installed on a support rail according to the second embodiment of present invention;

Figures 9-10 illustrate consecutive steps of how to fasten panels on a support rail with a fastening clip according to the second embodiment of present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with the technical matters, structural features, achieved objects, and effects with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specifically, the terminologies in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely for describing the purpose of the certain embodiment, but not to limit the disclosure.

The expression of the singular number in the present disclosure includes the meaning of the plural number unless the meaning of the singular number is definitely different from that of the plural number in the context. In the following description, the term “include” or “have” may represent the existence of a feature, a number, a step, an operation, a component, a part or the combination thereof described in the present disclosure, and may not exclude the existence or addition of another feature, another number, another step, another operation, another component, another part or the combination thereof.

The terms “first” or “second” are used for the purpose of explanation about various components, and the components are not limited to the terms “first” and “second”. The terms “first” and “second” are only used to distinguish one component from another component. For example, a first component may be named as a second component without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

On Figure 1 A, we observe a perspective view of a fastening kit 4, 6 installed on a support structure comprising a rail 1 .

The fastening kit comprises two parts: a lower part 4 and an upper part 6. Figure 1 illustrates the mounting of a panel (not shown), in particular a solar panel, on the rail 1 which has a U-shaped cross-section according to a sectional plane perpendicular to an elongation direction YY' of said rail. The rail 1 forms an opening 3 delimited by two side walls 1 a and 1 b connected by a bottom 1 c. The side walls 1 a and 1 b are, moreover, extended, by their edge parallel to the direction of elongation YY', by inwardly bent sections so as to form, each, a groove 2a and 2b. It is understood that the two grooves 2a and 2b are inverted with respect to the opening 3. It is also understood that the two inwardly bent sections are spaced apart from each other to allow insertion of the fastening kit into the opening 3.

The lower part 4 is received in the opening 3 of the rail 1 and the upper part is supported and held by the lower part 4. The upper part has two lateral parts which are holding the panel clamped by its upper face against rail. The lower part is held by the grooves 2a, 2b of the rail.

The lower part 4 and upper part 6 are connected by means known in the art.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fastening clip according to a first embodiment of present invention. As we can see, the fastening clip 100 is installed on a support rail.

Contrary to the embodiment of Figure 1 A, the fastening clip 100 is a one-piece construction. The fastening clip comprises:

- two opposite walls 40; the opposite walls extend along an axis AA';

- two lateral wings 20; the lateral wings laterally extend the two walls 40 from their upper ends in two opposite directions and away from each other; the lateral wings are intended to rest against a face of the panel to be fixed opposite the contact face;

- a plate 60; the plate connects directly the two walls 40 by their lower ends. According to this illustrated embodiment, the two opposite walls 40, are spilt into two feet 70, 80, and it is suitable to receive the single rail 12 between the two split feet.

The clip 100 is mounted on a support rail 10. Different from the support structure of the embodiment in Figure 1 A, the support structure 10 comprises a monorail 12 having a L-shaped cross-section according to a sectional plane perpendicular to an elongation direction XX’ of said rail. The rail 12 is, at its lower end, connected to a support 16. The monorail 12 is extended, at its upper end, by a section 14 preferably perpendicular to the monorail 12, thus the crosssection in the plane perpendicular to XX’ of the extended monorail 12, 14 has an inversed L shape.

Figure 2 illustrates a side view showing a fastening clip according to the first embodiment of present invention installed on a support rail 10 with a L-shape section.

The two feet 70, 80 have different length and the shorter foot 80 of the two feet comprises a gap 82 such that the two feet are separated by an inversed L shaped slot, and the gap 82 represents the horizontal part of the inversed L shaped slot. Advantageously, the L shaped slot matches the monorail 12 with L-shaped section such that the clip 100 can be firmly amounted on the support rail 10. Thus, the panels (not shown) can be fastened on the support rail 10 by the clip 100.

As we can observe on Figure 2, two opposite walls 40 comprise means for strengthening the walls. The strengthening means may comprise at least one stiffener 44.

The fastening clip 100 comprises at least one holding means 50 for connecting directly the opposite walls 40. Advantageously, this prevents the two opposite walls 40 from toppling in the middle.

In this first variant, the holding means 50 consists of two arms 52, 56 which extend, perpendicularly to the opposite walls, towards each other, each from a wall 40. In particular, the arms 52, 56 comprise attachment means disposed at the free ends of both arms and configured to oppose the spreading of the two opposite walls 50 as soon as a spreading force is imposed on said opposite walls.

More particularly, the attachment means includes a hook 57 and a window 53. The hook 57 is disposed at the free end of an arm 56, while the window 53 is disposed at the free end of the other arm 52. The hook 57 is engaged in the window 53, which may advantageously have an adapted shape to hold the hook.

According to a non-illustrated variant, the holding means 50 consists of two arms 52, 56 which extend, perpendicularly to the opposite walls, towards each other, each from a wall 40. In particular, the arms 52, 56 contact each other. Advantageously, the opposite walls 40 are prevent being bending under external force, for example during wind load. Thus, the pull-out force is enhanced. The arms 52, 56 contact each other, at the free ends which are bent.

Figure 3 shows another perspective view illustrating a fastening clip 100 according to the first embodiment of present invention, with panels 5 being held on a support rail 10. More particularly, the two lateral wings 20 are configured to be held in abutment against a peripheral frame 5’ of the solar panel 5, while the support rail 10 with L-shaped section is locked in the inversed L-shaped slot. The panels are firmly clamped between the lateral wings 20 and the rail 10. Optionally, the axis AA’ and XX’ are essentially perpendicular in this position. Advantageously, the optional frame 5’ is suitable to receive the elongated panel 5 and to be clamped against the structure 10 by the fastening clip 100.

Advantageously, the lateral wings 20 comprise captive means. According to this variant, the captive means have one or more folded tabs 22 projecting toward the plate 60. As a preference, the folded tabs are terminated by a point so as to be able to scratch the panel 5 when the lateral wings 20 are resting against said panel 5. More advantageously, the sharp tabs provide an electrical function. More precisely, the fastened solar panels 5 are thus electrically connected to the steel fastening clip 100 which is also electrically connected to the rail 10 thus to the ground. Thus, the grounding function is assured.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the fastening clip 100 has means for elevating the lateral wing 20.

The elevating means 24 according to this variant may comprise tab forming a hook configured to be elevated with a tool. Then the lateral wings are elevated to release the fastened panels 5.

Figures 4-5 illustrate consecutive steps of how to fasten panels on a support rail with a fastening clip according to the first embodiment of present invention.

Firstly, with the panels 5 being mounted on the rail 10 in a previous step, the clip 100 is introduced in an inclined position on the rail 10 such that the upper part of the rail 10 is received in the inversed L-shaped, the axis AA and XX’ being essentially perpendicular, as shown in Figure 4.

Then the upper section 14 of the rail 10 is received in the fastening clip 100.

The clip 100 is then making a turn following the direction S or around an axis parallel to XX’. The dimensions of the rail 10 and the fastening clip 100 are configured such that the inversed L-shaped slot and the L-shaped rail match each other after the turn. In fact, the clip 100 is firmly connected to the rail 10 by the L-shaped connection. A further rotation of the clip following the direction S would be prevented by the foot 70 which abuts the monorail 12 on its vertical section. Similarly, a further rotation of the clip following the counter direction of the direction S would be prevented by the upper section 14 which enters into abutment with the part of clip delimiting the L-shaped slot, as can be observed on the Figure 5.

A second embodiment will be then described with Figures 6-10.

Figure 6 shows a sectional view showing a fastening clip installed on a support rail according to a second embodiment of present invention.

Contrary to the embodiment of Figure 1 A, the fastening clip 100A is a one-piece construction. The fastening clip comprises:

- two opposite walls 40A; the opposite walls extend along an axis AA';

- two lateral wings 20A; the lateral wings laterally extend the two walls 40 from their upper ends in two opposite directions and away from each other; the lateral wings are intended to rest against a face of the panel 5 to be fixed opposite the contact face;

- a plate 60A; the plate connects directly the two walls 40A by their lower ends.

According to this illustrated embodiment, the two opposite walls 40A, are spilt into two feet 70A, 80A, and it is suitable to receive the single rail 12A between the two split feet.

As we can observe, the two feet 70A, 80A form a slot and the fastening clip 100A further comprises two attachment branches 90A extending towards bottom of the slot, such that a T shaped single rail be retained in the slot by the two attachment branches 90A projecting toward bottom of the slot. Advantageously, the two attachment branches 90A are flexible.

In a particularly advantageous example, two attachment branches 90A are formed by bending inwardly two opposing portions of the clip 100. In the illustrated example, the two opposing portions forming the two attachment branches 90A are between the two opposite walls 40A.

In a particularly advantageous variant, the two feet 70A, 80A are essentially of equal length. In fact, this allows a better balance of the clip 100 once mounted on the support structure 10A.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view showing a fastening clip according to a second embodiment, with panels being held on a support rail.

As we can observe on Figure 7, two opposite walls 40A comprise means for strengthening the walls. The strengthening means may comprise at least one stiffener 44A.

More particularly, the two lateral wings 20A are configured to be held in abutment against a peripheral frame 5’ of the solar panel 5, while the support rail 10A with T-shaped section is retained by in the slot by the two attachment branches 90A. The panels 5 are firmly clamped between the lateral wings 20A and the rail 10A. Optionally, the axis AA and XX’ are essentially perpendicular in this position. Advantageously, the optional frame 5’ is suitable to receive the elongated panel 5 and to be clamped against the structure 10A by the fastening clip 100A.

Advantageously, the lateral wings 20A comprise captive means. According to this variant, the captive means have one or more folded tabs 22A projecting toward the plate 60A. As a preference, the folded tabs are terminated by a point so as to be able to scratch the panel 5 when the lateral wings 20A are resting against said panel. More advantageously, the sharp tabs provide an electrical function. More precisely, the fastened solar panels are thus electrically connected to the steel fastening clip 100A which is also electrically connected to the rail l OA thus to the ground. Thus, the grounding function is assured.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the fastening clip 100A has means for elevating the lateral wing 20A.

The elevating means 24A according to this variant may comprise tab forming a hook configured to be elevated with a tool. Then the lateral wings are elevated to release the fastened panels 5.

Figure 8 shows a sectional view illustrating a fastening clip installed on a support rail according to the second embodiment of present invention. As can be seen on Figure 8, the two attachment branches 90A abut on the upper horizon section 14A of the T-shaped rail 12A, keeping the clip 100A being retained on the support structure 10A.

The two attachment branches 90A present advantageously elastic performances and stay on the two sides of the rail 12A, increasing the stability of the connection.

The fastening clip 100A comprises at least one holding means 50A for connecting directly the opposite walls 40A. Advantageously, this prevents the two opposite walls 40A from toppling in the middle.

In this first variant, the holding means 50A consists of two arms 52A, 56A which extend, perpendicularly to the opposite walls, towards each other, each from a wall 40A. In particular, the arms 52A, 56A comprise attachment means disposed at the free ends of both arms and configured to oppose the spreading of the two opposite walls 50A as soon as a spreading force is imposed on said opposite walls. Advantageously, the attachment branches 90A are prolongation of the arms 52A, 56A.

More particularly, the attachment means includes a hook 57A and a window 53A. The hook 57A is disposed at the free end of an arm 56A, while the window 53A is disposed at the free end of the other arm 52A. The hook 57A is engaged in the window 53A, which may advantageously have an adapted shape to hold the hook.

According to a non-illustrated variant, the holding means 50A consists of two arms 52A, 56A which extend, perpendicularly to the opposite walls, towards each other, each from a wall 40A. In particular, the arms 52A, 56A contact each other. Advantageously, the opposite walls 40A are prevent being bending under external force, for example during wind load. Thus, the pull-out force is enhanced. The arms 52A, 56A contact each other, at the free ends which are bent.

Figures 9-10 illustrate consecutive steps of how to fasten panels on a support rail with a fastening clip according to the second embodiment of present invention.

Firstly, with the panels 5 being mounted on the rail 10A in a previous step, the clip 100A is introduced vertically on the rail 10A such that the slot separating the feet 70A, 80A aligns with the monorail 12A, the axis AA and XX’ being essentially perpendicular, as shown in Figure 4.

Then the upper section 14A of the rail 10A is received in the slot separating the feet 70A, 80A of the fastening clip 100.

The clip 100 is then further pushed toward the support structure 10A such that the attachment branches clip under the upper section 14A of the monorail 10A. Advantageously, the operator has a clipping sensation. The panels are thus fastened on the support rail 10A. The dimensions of the rail 10A and the fastening clip 100A are configured such that the upper section enters into the slots between the feet 70A, 80A. In fact, the clip 100A is firmly connected to the rail 10A.

REFERENCE LIST

Reference